One thing that was unique to the synthi, was that each function that out-putted sound, had a level control- which then patched into the pin-matrix. In this case, connection could be done using banana cables/sockets, as these can be stacked (but I guess you loose any chance of normalisation or buffering?)

For this type of machine, I myself would still prefer the matrix idea. I think the 'output amount' control should be added as well. Either that, or input amount control, for each modulation destination.
Actually - rethinking that - output amount for each, would be preferable. Espeically in the instance of multiple things gonig to a single destination.

Quote:

I started designing a pin matrix board in Solidworks to house 2.5mm jack sockets- but like usual, something else came along at the time

It could easily be resurrected. There's a good shop just down the Coventry road that deals in Acetal modelling- but there would be an awful lot of wiring involved.

I definitely prefer Frequency Central's matrix idea. As to wiring - it could be put together on a PCB, saving running the wires to the connections. The final bit of wiring would from each matrix point, to the sources and destinations.

I have come to the conclusions, that the reason the vcs3 gets so much hype, is not only by the amount of now-famous musicians who have used it (Eno, Pink Floyd, TD, KS, BBC Radiophonic workshop etc etc etc), but the fact that there are so many cult pictures of those people say next to the thing, with it's "physics lab" look, then added to that it is rare and very expensive, makes it a highly desirable 'SFX' "instrument". Even chatting about it here is bumping up that elusiveness!

Noooo.... I hype it because I've owned some four of them in my days, and it is an amazing-sounding instrument, and very very fun to play. Who cares about engineering and "Used By..." photos? Really fun, and great-sounding. The only obstacle is price._________________We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid. -mwagener

he says he does stop selling the pcb's , but still keeps offering them, what to think 'bout that?

It's either he has not updated his site or he is just testing the water. I would love to build one but i can't understand why they are fetching nearly $10000 in some cases second hand. We have diy'ed most well known makes why not this.

I've seen them go for much much more than $10,000. It's absolutely obscene, especially for a box with contains a rather rudimentary set of electrical bits. But it's not EMS's fault. What is EMS's fault is EMS's total fu*king incompetence at business. Somebody really should go and shoot Robin Wood, and start the factory up once again, do it properly. But then again, "properly" is something that has never really fitted into the British way of doing business! _________________ACHTUNG!
ALLES TURISTEN UND NONTEKNISCHEN LOOKENPEEPERS!
DAS KOMPUTERMASCHINE IST NICHT FÜR DER GEFINGERPOKEN UND MITTENGRABEN! ODERWISE IST EASY TO SCHNAPPEN DER SPRINGENWERK, BLOWENFUSEN UND POPPENCORKEN MIT SPITZENSPARKSEN.
IST NICHT FÜR GEWERKEN BEI DUMMKOPFEN. DER RUBBERNECKEN SIGHTSEEREN KEEPEN DAS COTTONPICKEN HÄNDER IN DAS POCKETS MUSS.
ZO RELAXEN UND WATSCHEN DER BLINKENLICHTEN.

i don't have money much.
as soon as i have a few cents to spare i'll "buy" an illegal version of all wave plugins.
there is no other way i would ever be able to buy them all , as they are ridiculously expensive.
i think it's a good idea and feel very comfortable by this "legal"action .
i have rationalised it perfectly by the above mentioned method of reasoning.

cheers man , good luck with your waveplugins !
nice forum...nice guys...
please next time don't bother me anyway anymore by all shitchat of having to buy only legal software, people have cheated on ebay, somebody stealing your wife..
cheers

Building a modified/ custom version of the VCS3 sounds interesting to me. Not so interested in a one to one clone. One can always do something better or at least do something differently to suit one's needs better.
Interested to see what people come up with this project. I'll probably build something EMS insprired as well if I have the time this fall.

Thanks to the miracle of SDIY its now pretty easy to get very close to Synthi A and VCS3 (or possibly even better?) without treading on anyone's toes.....

1 of JH Living VCO module gives 3 great VCO's (add tri and sin wave shapers if needed, MFOS VCO boards can be adapted for this)one........

Don't forget that you'll need to change the LVCOs to respond to the extreme modulation depth inherent in the EMS oscillators...something much less than 1V/Octave, IIRC. This is significant._________________We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid. -mwagener

Thanks to the miracle of SDIY its now pretty easy to get very close to Synthi A and VCS3 (or possibly even better?) without treading on anyone's toes.....

1 of JH Living VCO module gives 3 great VCO's (add tri and sin wave shapers if needed, MFOS VCO boards can be adapted for this)one........

Don't forget that you'll need to change the LVCOs to respond to the extreme modulation depth inherent in the EMS oscillators...something much less than 1V/Octave, IIRC. This is significant.

Yep, good point.

IIRC the VCS 3 & Synthi A VCO's were 0.32 V/Oct; easily implemented on living VCO's with a single resistor change per VCO, could even add a switch to give a choice of 0.32 or 1V/Oct for more versatility.

Does anyone know a way to build an ultra-simple spring reverb (Synthi-style, with just two control knobs - level and wet/dry mix)? I'm pretty sure there's a way to drive a tank with a headphone amp circuit, but I don't know how to wire it up. Seems like it may be one of those things that's so easy no one has bothered to post a schematic anywhere, but I'm new enough at this that I'd still like the help.

Does anyone know a way to build an ultra-simple spring reverb (Synthi-style, with just two control knobs - level and wet/dry mix)? I'm pretty sure there's a way to drive a tank with a headphone amp circuit, but I don't know how to wire it up. Seems like it may be one of those things that's so easy no one has bothered to post a schematic anywhere, but I'm new enough at this that I'd still like the help.

Could any Synthi A and VCS3 users out there let us know if there are any peculiarities with the EMS spring reverb driver and amp circuit that influences the sound or are we safe in going ahead with a simple op amp based design?
The EMS circuit is pretty straightforward but all transistor as it was designed before opamps were cheap. Spring reverb tanks are readily available so we could design it around an accutronics type tank unit.

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